Welcome to a new feature here at Multiversity Comics: Hoax Hunters Backstage Pass! We had the honor of being approached by Hoax Hunters series creators Michael Moreci & Steve Seeley to do a “release-week” column on each issue of Hoax Hunters. This first column will be something of a catch-up edition to take care of what’s been released already. If you aren’t on board with this fantastic and inventive series, I would suggest trying to get your hands on issues #0 & #1, which we’ll be discussing today! They’re officially sold out, so good luck! You may have to try Comixology. Whatever you do, don’t miss out, because this column will pretty much only make sense and be rewarding if you’re reading the series. And there are definitely going to be SPOILERS throughout!
I can already tell you that the guys are very enthusiastic about sharing their collaborative efforts, easter eggs, and teasers with their readers. Let’s get started!
First of all, I’d like to talk about the terrific (dare I say, iconic?) cover image of Hoax Hunters #0. I have to admit that it was the sole reason that I grabbed the book off the shelf at my local shop. I knew nothing else about the book, but how can you avoid the image of the “empty” spacesuit with crows flying out of it? Can you talk about where that concept and the design came from?
Steve Seeley: I knew we needed a stark image for issue #0, mainly because both Mike and I didn’t have the star power names that a lot of other books on the shelves had. We knew we needed our book to stand out. We needed something that would grab people. I had heard from retailer friends of mine that comic shops and collectors dreaded white covers, because they could be easily dirtied and showed ever flaw, thus hard to keep “mint.” When I heard that I honestly thought, no matter how corny this sounds, that we could prove that a hoax. I’m not sure if it worked or if we proved anything, but Hoax Hunters #0 did sell out. Just saying.
On page 9, it is revealed that Regan has some sort of superhuman ability. It’s clear from the start that Ken Cadaver must be some kind of zombie or something. Will the story explore the supernatural origins of the TEAM more, or are we being asked to accept that this is what happens in the world of the Hoax Hunters?
(Also, this is more of a joke question, but how do you keep the viewing public from not realizing that Ken isn’t exactly “normal”?)
Michael Moreci: For sure, we have every intention of exploring the backstory of each and every member of the team over the early part of the series (we’re getting a good Jack backstory in this first arc). We just don’t want to rush through all the character depth and surprises we have in mind in the first issue. Because what would that look like? We’d probably need some new member introduced to the team and have him or her filter each Hoax Hunter from that uninitiated perspective. And how many times have we seen that in other comics, movies, TV? Not to mention we just did a new character story in issue zero, which makes for some redundancy.
We’re not trying to be obtuse or anything like that–but this is a series built largely on mystery, and we don’t intend on showing any of our cards for the sake of showing them. This goes for our characters as well as the story. We hope people are wondering how Regan got her powers, how Ken came to be an undead telepath, how a powerless Jack came to lead this team. To me, those are all juicy questions. And the answers to every one of them will be revealed in time.
As for Ken’s appearance on camera, that’s a good question. We’ll learn more about how this works in issue #6. I know…what a non-answer! But it’s the best I can do; tease without spoiling!
Continued belowOne of the stand-out scenes in the 0 issue was the flashback to the astronaut and his tragic fate that gave way to what we now know as the character “Murder.” I thought the writing was particularly effective here. Was gaining Murder as a member of the Hoax Hunters something that was always planned, or was there something in the process that led you down this path?
MM: Murder was always integral to the backup story–that character is one of the fundamental building blocks of the story’s inception. In our initial story meetings, at the very beginning, all Steve and I had was Murder and Ken Cadaver. The idea of Hoax Hunters, and its central concept, came after.
But it’s a good point you bring up and – if you’ll endure the sound of me patting myself on the back – I’m glad you enjoyed the segment. It’s my favorite of the issue, to be honest. First of all, JM nails the emotion of the scene with such economy. It’s remarkable. Second, it represents our ambition for the series. Yes, Murder is a great, original concept. Whatever corner of Steve’s brain Murder formed in, I’m not sure I want to visit. Yet underlying that unique and iconic figure is something more–in issue #0, we see him as a completely human character. His story is sad, tragic and, hopefully, moving. I think that’s surprising, in a way, because you don’t expect that kind of depth from a spectral astronaut suit filled with crows. We could’ve left it at that and called it a day. But that kind of emotional depth and human core is what’s at the center of everything Hoax Hunters is. Sure, Steve and I are dying to unleash as many weird monsters, supernatural phenomenon, and conspiracy craziness as we possibly can. But it’ll always, always be grounded in a human story. We want our characters to be real–flawed, heroic, bruised, and surprising.
On to Hoax Hunters #1: Jack alludes to the Hoax Hunter assignments coming from “up top.” Of course, with a TV show, this suggests producers or executives, but the tone of the scene is a little more ominous than that. When can we expect to start learning just who is “up top” and what they stand to gain or lose with the Hoax Hunters’ successes and failures?
SS: In the first arc, we see glimpses of the “up top”. And the “up top” end up playing large roles in all the Hoax Hunters’ lives in the foreseeable future.
Thus far, Hoax Hunters has not relied on major twists, but rather a bunch of smaller-scale, yet satisfying surprises throughout the first couple issues. I refer to things like Regan having powers and a possibly-related nationally televised event from her past, Murder becoming a member of the team, the case of the dead swamp creatures and Jack’s father’s possible connection to it, etc… There’s plenty of mystery being dropped into the book bit by bit. Please tell me that these things won’t be left unanswered!
MM: Haha…it’s all one big Macguffin, suckas!
Kidding, kidding. No, we have answers for every single mystery we present, and that’s the absolute truth. I think our method of storytelling can be summed as “entice and reward.” We’ll be dropping these breadcrumbs throughout the entire series, little tidbits that allude to an important piece of backstory, or something that’s going to play out later on. Personally, I think this is a supremely satisfying–and fun– way to tell a story. Because once you’re enticed, if you’re anything like me, you need to know. And when the payoff comes, man, it’s so rewarding and such a thrill.
I think I’ve said this a trillion times before, but I’m a big, big fan of LOST. It’s taught me so much about serialized, pulp storytelling. When it comes to entice and reward, of dropping little mysteries here and there, no one beats LOST (the final season withheld, of course). I love those reveal moments. “John Locke was in a wheelchair? Wait…John Locke was in a wheelchair?!” I think it’s a tougher kind of storytelling to sell, because you’re really putting a lot of faith in your audience to stick around for said reveals. But I trust our readers – I think they recognize what we’re doing, and they’re in for the ride. And, believe me, Steve and I do know where these mysteries lead. Regan’s past, Jack’s dad and his connection to the die-offs, all of it and more.
Continued belowOne of my favorite panels in issue #1 was the Honey Island Swamp Monster, Durand, lurking in the shadows behind the sheriff character. Durand’s design is that of a classic swamp monster, but there’s something unique about him. The Hoax Hunters seem to know him and have a past with him, as well. Are you planning on wrestling more with the idea that the Hoax Hunters could be detrimental to these creatures, and others like them?
SS: Absolutely. The Hoax Hunters organization has been around in some form or another for a long time. If not a reality television show, it was a magazine and before that a radio show, and before that something else, and so on. So yeah, the Organization itself has dealt with the likes of most cryptids for a good amount of time and it is because of Hoax Hunters that their existence remains hidden and their safety a priority.
Finally, the cast of Hoax Hunters itself is a diverse one, without falling prey to any stereotypes or assigning them stock comic book personalities. Yet, they each have their own voice and point-of-view that does come through. How much will Jack, Regan, and Ken be the center of the Hoax Hunters, how much will Murder be able to contribute, and how often will “guests” like the sheriff drop in, voluntarily or otherwise?
MM: Thanks, I’m glad you think so! That’s something Steve and I made a priority and it goes along with giving our characters shades of nuance. If I can dust of my literary cap for a moment, it was E.M. Forster who made a brilliant distinction between flat and round characters. In a nutshell, round characters can change over the course of the story, they have the ability to surprise the reader with their deeds and actions (in ways that make sense, not characters suddenly changing on a dime without rhyme or reason). Thinking of that, take Jack, for instance. I think after issue #0, most people had the impression that he was the brutish leader of the group and, in a way, that’s true. But then in issue #1 – and throughout the course of the entire first arc – we see that he’s also a wounded individual. He has some interior issues going on, and those issues make him behave in a way that are unbecoming to a leader. So he’ll act in a surprising way, given his role, but the behavior isn’t totally out of the blue. That’s the kind of psychological depth we plan on instilling in all our characters.
As for guest characters, well, I can say that in issues three and four you’ll be introduced to what Steve and I consider “mythology” characters – people who are intertwined to the larger story we’re telling and have deep roots in the Hoax Hunters hierarchy. But there will also be people like the sheriff who drop in from time to time. In the next arc, in fact, we’re bringing a unique take on that. I can’t say what, but it’s kind of funny (at least to us it is).
Thanks, guys! And readers can look forward to the next edition of Backstage Pass during the release week of Hoax Hunters #2! (August 8th, 2012)
